Statistics: Finding the Median

There are several different types of averages.

An average is one number that represents a set of numbers.

The MEDIAN or the MEDIAL VALUE is simply the number, which appears right in the middle of the list once it has been place in order.

If there are an even number of numbers in the list, you must find the mean of the two middle numbers.

Example

Find the MEDIAN of this set of ten numbers:    5,  4,  8,  4,  3,  3,  8,  5,  1,  6

Answer

Step 1     Place in order     1,  3,  3,  4,  4,  5,  5,  6,  8,  8

Step 2     The two middle numbers are 4 and 5.  

                 We add 4 + 5 and halve the answer to get 9 ÷ 2 = 4.5

The MEDIAN is 4.5